Real Madrid News
Mourinho urges Real Madrid to sign 24-year-old Portuguese defender despite Konate’s arrival – report
Real Madrid may have already strengthened their defence this summer, but Jose Mourinho believes the job is not finished yet.
The arrival of Ibrahima Konate was expected to solve one of the club’s biggest concerns heading into the new season.
However, recent reports suggest the Portuguese coach continues to push for another defensive addition and has already identified his preferred target.
According to Defensa Central, Mourinho is asking the Real Madrid hierarchy to bring in 24-year-old Benfica defender Tomas Araujo, a player he rates highly after closely following his development in Portugal.
With several defensive targets proving difficult to sign, the Benfica centre-back is emerging as a serious option for the Spanish giants.
Araujo is Mourinho’s priority defensive target
Real Madrid’s defensive rebuild has been one of the major themes of the summer transfer window, but Mourinho wants further reinforcements before the market closes.
The report states that the Portuguese manager is a huge admirer of Araujo and believes the defender possesses the qualities needed to succeed at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Mourinho is said to have been particularly impressed by the Benfica star’s performances and views him as a player capable of strengthening Real Madrid both immediately and in the long term.
The timing of this interest is hardly surprising, as Real Madrid’s search for defensive reinforcements has become more complicated following Nico Schlotterbeck’s injury setback, while Alessandro Bastoni remains a difficult target due to the enormous financial demands.
As a result, Araujo has moved higher on the club’s shortlist.
Real Madrid to revisit centre-back market
Defensive depth remains a concern for Real Madrid after several injury-hit seasons disrupted their ability to maintain consistency across all competitions.
In that regard, it must be remembered that any move for another defender would depend on developments within the current squad.
Real Madrid are still evaluating potential departures, while the situation of Raul Asencio is also expected to play a role in determining whether another centre-back arrives.
Interestingly, Mourinho does not see the academy graduate as a key part of his long-term plans, which could influence future decisions in the position.
Once there are exits, Real Madrid can then shift their focus to the available options in the market.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
